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Loveable alpacas strut their stuff at their national competition

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Yes, this alpaca can see through all that hair. (I asked)
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Used as herding animals in South America, alpacas are related to camels.
Trevor Hughes/USA TODAY

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Valarie Smith of Amarillo, Tex., laughs as she poses for a picture with one of her alpacas during the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Although alpacas aren't necessarily the friendliest animals, they're highly curious and general safe for even small children to be around, experts say.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Yep, this one can see too. (I asked again.)
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas come in two breeds, suri and huacaya. This alpaca, a suri, is recognizable by its shaggy coat. Huacaya alpacas are by far the most common breed, but suri enthusiasts say they love their shaggy animals.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas love to eat hay and grass. They only have bottom teeth in the front of their mouths, which mean they are more more gentle at plucking grass than horses.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas are pack animals - experts say lone alpacas get so nervous they won't sleep, and they prefer the company of others for safety.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Watch out, they kick! Alpacas will kick out with their hind legs when angry or scared. But fun fact: their feet are soft pads like ours or those of dogs, which means the bruise they leave on your leg is distinctive but won't break the skin.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Their tall ears give them excellent hearing, which means alpacas are good protective animals for sheep.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Yes, they really can see through all of that shaggy hair!
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Huacaya alpacas have coats that look like those of sheep, although the hair is much softer and feels a lot more like silk, even without cleaning or processing.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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You'll notice the halters on most of these alpacas - that's because they aren't the most hospitable of animals. They prefer to ignore people in general, and like their space. Think of them as large dogs with a general dislike for people and a penchant for spitting.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas have highly expressive ear movements, laying them back on their head when they're upset. They also make a whine that sounds a little bit like a cat purring. If the cat was much bigger. And prone to spitting.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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A row of stuffed alpaca dolls on display at the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Although they're not as friendly as most dogs, alpacas are curious and like to check out what's going on around them.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Although they like to be around other alpacas, they aren't really herd animals like sheep. In this case, half of this group are looking toward to the camera, where their handler has just clapped to get their attention, and the others are looking as other alpacas walking past.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Hay there!
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca tests out the bars of its coral during the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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A solo alpaca checks out passing animals during the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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You can read this for yourself and save me retyping it!
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Big consumers of grass and hay, alpacas use their rear teeth to grind it into smaller pieces to eat.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas have thick tongues and sharp bottom teeth, with they use in combination to graze on grass and hay.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Bottle-fed from birth, this alpaca is very friendly and curious.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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This huacaya alpaca is keeping a close eye on your photographer.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Tatum, this alpaca, is covered in a thick pelt of hair. Alpacas are shorn annually, and their hair is prized for clothing and blankets.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpaca hair is much softer than sheep's wool to the touch, having more of a silky feeling.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca owner parts an animal's hair to show how thick and lustrous it is.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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This alpaca's hair is more than an inch think, and densely packed.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas come in coats of many colors, and are judged on how well they meet breed standards and a variety of other criteria.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Clothing made from alpaca hair offered for sale during the National Alpaca Show in Denver. Fans say alpaca-hair garments are light and warm, with a silky texture.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca checks out its surroundings during the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca checks out its surroundings during the National Alpaca Show in Denver. Alpaca industry experts have built an extensive DNA database of alpacas, and can easily trace the lineage of most animals.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Alpacas are smaller than their relatives, llamas, although they're from the same general area of South America, and share many traits. Enthusiasts say they're great low-maintenance livestock that generate valuable hair.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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With their expressive faces, it's easy to think alpacas are up to mischief even when they're just eating hay.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca checks out its surroundings during the National Alpaca Show in Denver. Alpacas are the show are competing in categories that range from technical merit to beauty.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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An alpaca checks out its surroundings during the National Alpaca Show in Denver. Top alpacas can sell for $50,000, and championship winners are highly sought for breeding.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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A trio of curious alpacas watch as their photo is taken.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Male alpacas have sharp canines they use to fight each other, and which are generally ground down or sliced off by human owners.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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These alpacas share a mother, but different fathers, and had never met before the National Alpaca Show.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Curious alpacas inspect a photographer at the National Alpaca Show in Denver.
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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Laurel Shouvlin, a judge of alpacas, bends to inspect a friend's animal during the National Alpaca Show
Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY

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A highlight of this year's National Alpaca Show is the photo booth, where visitors can have their photo take with competitors.
Courtesy photo, USA TODAY

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The National Alpaca Show features a selfie booth where visitors can get their photo taken with friendly alpacas. Here, USA TODAY journalist Trevor Hughes makes a face after he was unexpectedly licked by an alpaca inside an enclosure.
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